NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 17 – Olympic champions Beatrice Chebet and Emmanuel Wanyonyi were the toast of the night after being crowned the 2024 Sportswoman and Sportsman of the year in a glamorous Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) gala hosted at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Center Thursday Night.
The black-tie annual event saw Double Olympic champion and 10,000m world record holder Chebet defeat 2023 SOYA Sportswoman of the year Olympic 1500m champion and world record holder Faith Kipyegon as well as marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich who made a top three shortlist.
The year 2024 was a successful year for the diminutive Chebet after opening the season with a World Cross Country title defense, then went on to smash the 10,000m world record at the Prefontaine Diamond League setting a new time of 28:54.14 before wrapping the year with a double gold at the Paris Olympics in 10,000m and 5000m. She also won the Diamond League trophy.
On the other hand, Wanyonyi cruised to his first Olympic Games gold, following his victory in the men’s 800m in Paris Games and won the Diamond League trophy.
-2024 SOYA Winners Full list-
SOYA @21 FINALISTS
| CATEGORY | NOMINEE | SPORT | POS |
| HALL OF FAME | 1 JOHN BOBBY OGOLLA | FOOTBALL | 1 |
| SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR | 1 BENSON MWENDA | RUGBY 15S | 1 |
| SCHOOLTEAM OF THE YEAR GIRLS | 1 KESOGON HIGH SCHOOL | VOLLEYBALL | 1 |
| 2 ST.JOSEPH KITALE | HOCKEY/RUGBY 7S | 2 | |
| 3 BUTERE GIRLS | BASKETBALL 3X3/FOOTBALL | 3 | |
| SCHOOLTEAM OF THE YEAR BOYS | 1 ALL SAINTS EMBU | RUGBY 15S | 1 |
| 2 FRIENDS SCHOOL KAMUSINGA | BASKETBALL3X3 | 2 | |
| 3 MUSINGU BOYS | HOCKEY /FOOTBALL | 3 | |
| COACH OF THE YEAR | 1 MILDRED CHECHE | FOOTBALL | 1 |
| SPORTTEAM OF THE YEAR WOMEN | 1 JUNIOR STARLETS | FOOTBALL | 1 |
| 2 KENYA WOMEN AMPUTEE TEAM | FOOTBALL | 2 | |
| 3 KENYA PIPELINE | VOLLEYBALL | 3 | |
| SPORTSTEAM OF THE YEAR MEN | 1 THUNDER | BASKETBALL | 1 |
| 2 RISING STARS | FOOTBALL | 2 | |
| 3 KENYA PRISONS | VOLLEYBALL | 3 | |
| SPORTSWOMAN WITH DISABILITY | 1 MICHELLE CHEPNG’ETICH | PARA- ATHLETICS | 1 |
| 2 SHEILA WANYONYI | PARA ATHLETICS | 2 | |
| 3 VALARY OLESIA | PARA-POWERLIFTING | 3 | |
| SPORTSMAN WITH DISABILITY | 1 SAMSON OJUKA | PARA- ATHLETICS | 1 |
| 2 KENNEDY OGADA | PARA-CYCLING | 2 | |
| 3 SHADRACK KIPYEGON | PARA- POWERLIFTING | 3 | |
| SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR | 1 BEATRICE CHEBET | ATHLETICS | 1 |
| 2 FAITH KIPYEGON | ATHLETICS | 2 | |
| 3 RUTH CHEPNG’ETICH | ATHLETICS | 3 | |
| SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR | 1 EMMANUEL WANYONYI | ATHLETICS | 1 |
| 2 RONALD KWEMOI | ATHLETICS | 2 | |
| 3 BENSON KIPRUTO | ATHLETICS | 3 |
